Postdoctoral Scientist: Surfactant & Colloid Research

Colgate; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive invites applications from early-career PhD scientists for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Surfactant and Colloid at our Global Technology Center in Piscataway, NJ. The role focuses on fundamental colloid science, surfactant self-assembly, and interfacial phenomena for next-generation dentifrice formulations.

The researcher will map phase spaces, transport kinetics, and interactions with dentifrice components, delivering predictive models and collaborating across

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Colloid and Interface Science or closely related STEM discipline.
• Deep fundamental knowledge of surfactant science, micellar phase equilibria, micro-emulsions, coacervation, and physical chemistry of dispersed systems.
• Hands-on instrumentation mastery in surface tensiometry, DLS, zeta-potential analysis, rheology, and interfacial dilatational rheometry; other techniques include EM, UV-Vis, and quantitative chromatography.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to characterize phase behavior, micro-emulsion structures, and self-assembly of taurate and amino acid surfactant systems for oral care.
• Investigate thermodynamic, electrostatic, and chemical interactions between surfactants and dentifrice components including Sn2+, Zn2+, fluoride sources, and inorganic abrasives.
• Build kinetic and thermodynamic models to characterize flavor oil solubilization and headspace partitioning under simulated oral conditions.
• Integrate experimental data into predictive machine-learning and computational thermodynamic models to accelerate formulation design.
• Collaborate across Early Research, Formulation Development, Analytical Sciences, Clinical Research, and IP teams.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and draft invention disclosures.

Skills

Colloid science knowledge

Interfacial science

DLS

Tensiometry

Rheology

HLD modeling

Education

PhD in Colloid and Interface Science

Tools

Surface tensiometry

Dynamic light scattering

Zeta-potential

Rheometry

Interfacial dilatational rheometry

HPLC

Headspace analysis

Job description

Colgate-Palmolive invites applications from early-career PhD scientists for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Surfactant and Colloid at our Global Technology Center in Piscataway, NJ. The role focuses on fundamental colloid science, surfactant self-assembly, and interfacial phenomena for next-generation dentifrice formulations.

The researcher will map phase spaces, transport kinetics, and interactions with dentifrice components, delivering predictive models and collaborating across